DavidWW wrote:
At the risk of thread drift, who would like to identify the very famous Italian opera (male) aria where the subject appears to be "elephants' ears" ?? !!!............

David

I´m afraid that I give up; I don´t know about all you other opera buffs, but I feel we´ve had time enough. Have talked to tenor, discussed it with a repetiteur, and had someone look at the libretto without any joy. Can´t sleep at night. Give us a break, David for pity´s sake......

A most despondent "Thrall"

Make it easier next time, please....

It's a male aria from La Traviata (?), according to my wife, one line of which, ever since she was a wee kid, she is convinced ends in "elephant's ears". To my ear it depends on the actual singer as to just how clear it is!

Daivd

Last edited by DavidWW on Tue May 09, 2006 7:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Just arrived at the crucial year 1851 in the wonderfully puckish (In)complete and Utter History of Classical Music by Stephen Fry.

There I learned that the orchestra rehearsed the opera Rigoletto for some time but always had to jump over a blank page, and when asked about this, Verdi, conductor and composer said "Oh... we´ll... fill that bit in later".
At the dress rehearsal on the day of the opening night, so to speak, he stumped up the missing aria.

The reason?

Well, it seems that Verdi was so convinced he was on to a winning, hit tune, that he wanted to make sure it stayed under wraps until the opening night, for fear of some unscrupulous composer stealing it!

Another piece of fairly useless but perhaps interesting information....

I think I heard that bit too. You have to admit the man was right about the aria. It has well and truly stood the test of time in whatever version. I guess he knew whether or not he had unscrupulous rivals.

One of the more magical experiences I had was seeing and hearing Rigoletto in the ampitheatre in Verona......even if I did get soaked in a thundery shower. I've never seen string players run so fast with their instruments.

On a more prosaic note, a while ago I was standing the in checkout queue in Sainsbury's and a man in front of me with a small child in his trolley was singing the tune endlessly to the rather repetitive lyrics "Jose Mourinho, Jose Mourinho". That's probably not how you spell it but a close attempt. I'm sure Verdi did not envisage his piece de resistance being pinched as a football chant.

Oh dear, now I've just remembered something else - I could only have been about 5 when I first heard this skipping rhyme in the playground - and had no idea who either of the two gentlemen were! Only in later years did I realise what we had been singing about!

"Vote. vote ,vote for Mr Churchill
In comes Atlee at the door
Churchill is the one and we shall have some fun
And we don't want Atlee any more
Close the door!"